KL Tower (Menara Kuala Lumpur)

KL Tower, officially Menara Kuala Lumpur, is the city's other great viewpoint and, for many visitors, the better one for photographs of the Petronas Twin Towers. The telecommunications tower rises 421 metres to the tip of its antenna from the top of Bukit Nanas, a forested hill in the city centre, and Tourism Malaysia describes it as the tallest tower in South East Asia. It opened to the public in July 1996 and was officially inaugurated that October.

There are several ways to take in the view. The indoor Observation Deck, at 276 metres, is the classic option, with windows all round and a full panorama of the city. Above it, the open-air Sky Deck at 300 metres puts you outside with nothing but railings between you and the skyline, and the Sky Box, at around the same height, is a newer thrill experience for a more nerve-testing photograph. Tower Walk 100 is a further challenge activity at the edge of the tower. The Sky Deck and Tower Walk operate only when the weather allows, and Tower Walk is not open to children aged four and under. The revolving restaurant in the tower head is now ARAS Restaurant.

The tower is open every day, including public holidays, from 9am to 10pm. Tickets can be bought online on the official website, at self-service kiosks or at the ticket counter, and they are non-refundable. Late afternoon is a popular time, as you can see the city by day and then watch the lights come on after sunset, but clear mornings often have the best visibility. Allow around an hour and a half, more if you combine your visit with a meal.

The tower sits at the junction of Jalan Puncak and Jalan P. Ramlee. A free shuttle runs every 15 minutes between the main entrance and the tower lobby from 8.30am to 10pm, weather permitting, which saves a steep walk uphill. The nearest stations are Bukit Nanas on the monorail and Dang Wangi on the LRT, both a short walk from the main entrance.

The hill around the tower is the KL Forest Eco Park, a forest reserve first gazetted in 1906, with jungle trails and a 200-metre canopy walk about 21 metres above the ground, and the tower grounds also hold smaller family attractions such as a mini zoo, an upside-down house and an aquarium. Combine the tower with the eco park for a half-day that mixes city views and rainforest in the middle of the capital.